We are deeply
concerned by the potential repercussions of a March 10 statement released by
Ministry of Defense spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi over an article written by The
Wall Street Journal reporter Maria Abi-Habib. The statement, which
personally attacks the journalist, sends a chilling message to other reporters
who write about alleged government misconduct. We call on you to publicly address
Azimi's statement and ask all government officials to refrain from attacks on
journalists. We also ask you to uphold your commitment to a free press in
Afghanistan that you have made many times in the past.

Abi-Habib's March 8
article reported on accusations that Afghan Air Force personnel were involved
in drug and weapons trafficking while using AAF aircraft. The story cited
officials from the International Security Assistance Force openly saying they were
investigating misconduct within the AAF. The article also said a separate
investigation was being carried out by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration.

The article also
quoted several high-ranking Afghan government officials, including AAF
spokesman Lt. Col. Mohammed Bahadur and Minister of Defense Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak.
But Azimi's statement, released two days later, contained personal attacks on
the journalist in a seeming attempt to discredit her:

Miss Maria Habib, a journalist of The Wall
Street Journal deals with these matters with
ultimate obsession; her untruthful reports are well-known amongst national and
international media.

Perhaps even worse, the statement ended on a threatening note:

In reviewing
this story by The Wall Street
Journal it appears that political groups from different countries pay
certain journalists such as Miss Habib who are seeking fame to broadcast such
baseless and untruthful reports.

Stating that
someone is being paid by "political groups from different countries" is a
serious charge, one that puts any reporter in serious danger. The accusation is
even more dangerous in a country like Afghanistan, where rule of law is
relatively weak and threats, attacks, and murders take place with near-complete
impunity.

In addition, these
barely veiled threats send a chilling message to all other reporters, local or
foreign, who dare to write critically of the government.

As an organization
dedicated to the protection of journalists around the world, we urge you to
uphold your commitment to a free press in Afghanistan. We call on you to
publicly address Azimi's statement and also ask all government officials to
refrain from such potentially lethal attacks on local and foreign reporters.